Casino Chips on Your Account

[Bfson]

If I go into the casino and get $50 in chips and charge it to my room account, is it treated like any other charge to the room or is treated like a cash advance on the credit card (that accrues interest immediately)?

[Stevesan]

Casino chips are charged to your shipboard account. There's a 3% surcharge for this service.

[grammymurray]

It is treated as a charge which you can pay off the last day of cruise or leave on your credit card!

[Ziggy7]

it is charged to your ship board account with a 3% surcharge, but when you pay it off with your credit cards, it is listed as a
purchase, not cash advance, hope this helps :)

[saltydog28]

Is there a surcharge if you order some pre-cruise from the gift list?
Pat.

[NoCruiseBlues]

Casino Chips Can Be Purchased Prior To The Cruise? If So Where Can I Purchase Them, Is There A Limitation, Will They Be Awaiting Me In The Casino Or In The Cabin?

[gizmo]

Saltydog,

Great question. I would like to know the answer to this also.

[GulfCoaster]

Saltydog 28:

Go to the HAL website and click on the Onboard Experience tab from their menu. You can then download the Gifts Order Form. On the form you will find Casino Chips. They are sold in $10.00 blocks. If you call in your order to Ships Services they will charge your credit card immediately for the amount you choose.

When you arrive in your cabin on the first day of your cruise there will be a card waiting for you which you will exchange at the Casino Cashier cage for chips or tokens. Your choice. Remember, you will need to show I.D. to redeem it. Be careful not to throw the card away before redeeming, which is easy to do in all of the 1st day excitement. I know, cause I accidentally did it once.

The card is your receipt which shows you have a casino credit coming. When you cash it in at the casino (which is the only place you can redeem it) they will take it from you.

I always purchase chips in advance. I give them to my wife as a gift. I never charge chips to my cabin or take a credit card advance for them. It is easy to do but you will pay a hefty vig for the privilege.

When you charge your chips in advance, you will pay no interest or service charge if you pay your credit card balance in full each month (i.e. American Express).

If the slots are cold and the luck is poor, just cash your chips/tokens in after your gaming session right back at the Casino Cashier cage and they will give you cash back for the balance of what you cash in.

Another good reason to purchase in advance is you have in a sense already "set up" your gambling budget for the trip. If it goes - it goes. If you win - GREAT! You've paid your "marker" in advance.

This is the way it has always been before - however things do change. On our HAL cruise last year no problem - same with Princess. However, on our last Carnival cruise I found that they had stopped selling chips in advance. That may have changed again since then, but I do not know for sure.

Hope that helps!

Mike

3 Days Until We Board The Oosterdam - And Counting!!!

[saltydog28]

Thank-you Mike,
Now I know to order them in advance.
It sounds like your getting excited. Have a great time.
Take care-safe home,
Pat.